A friend told me about this fabulously fun yarn, and I just had to try it out for myself. It looks a bit intimidating, but it actually works up quite nicely.

For my sample, I used a size G/6 (4mm) hook to work the half double crochet stitch in the round (see pattern below) to make a small dish scrubby. The yarn has a sturdy cord which has a tiny bit of stretch (that was a nice little surprise!), and the cord is easily seen through the sparkly "hairs."

I highly recommend this yarn! Experiment with a dish scrubby or other fun craft project, and let me know in the comments how it turned out.

Fiber Content:	100% Polyester
Skein Weight:	3 oz (85g) ball
Yardage:	174yd (159m)
Recommended Crochet Hook:	5.5 mm (US I-9) hook

Small Scrubby Pattern

Ch 3. Join with sl st in first ch to make ring. Ch 2.

Note: Pattern is worked in a continuous round. Do not join between rounds. Place a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.

Round 1: Work 10 hdc in ring. (10 hdc)
Round 2: 2 hdc in each stitch around. (20 hdc)
Round 3: Hdc in first st of Round 2. *[2 hdc in next st. Hdc in next st]. Repeat from (*) to stitch marker. (30 hdc)
Round 4: Hdc in first st of Round 3. Hdc in next st. *[2 hdc in next st. Hdc in next 2 st]. Repeat from (*) to stitch marker. Join with sl st in first hdc of Round 4. Fasten off. Weave through ends.

Personally, I get so excited about starting a new pattern, I usually skip over the instruction: "Check Gauge." It sounds too time-consuming, and a waste of perfectly good yarn. Alas, it is quite useful when deviating from a pattern's suggested yarn. Allow me to explain...

Perhaps you would like to crochet a simple winter scarf, and the pattern you're using suggests a Medium Weight Acrylic yarn and a size H (5mm) hook. However, you have purchased a Bulky Weight yarn (simply because it was absolutely the softest yarn and the colors were perfect for a splash of color with your otherwise dreary winter wardrobe), and the label suggests using a size K (10.5mm) hook. The finished project, according to the pattern, is a scarf measuring 7" wide and 70" long.

The problem: If you use the hook the pattern suggests, the scarf will be too small. If you use the hook the label suggests, the scarf will be too big. What should you do to satisfy your inner Goldilocks?

The solution: Crochet a gauge.

Start by working a swatch in your soft, beautiful, bulky yarn with the size hook suggested for the gauge in the pattern. If your swatch has the same measurements shown for the gauge, then everything's Jake! Otherwise, you'll need to keep trying until the hook used produces a swatch measurement matching the gauge. Yes, it's time-consuming. Yes, it uses some of your precious yarn. However, you will end up with a lovely scarf you are proud to say you made, instead of one you might give to Papa Bear.

Pictured: 3 Rows, 10 Double Crochet

Top Left: Medium (4) Cotton, Size H (5mm) Hook
Bottom Left: Medium (4) Acrylic, Size H (5mm) Hook
Top Right: Bulky (5) Acrylic, Size F (3.75mm) Hook
Bottom Right: Medium (4) Acrylic, Size K (6.5mm) Hook

When starting a project that requires two or more skeins of yarn, be sure to check the Lot number on the label to make sure the skeins you purchase came from the same dye lot. Even though the yarn has the same color name, it will look very different between lots. In the photo, the name of this yarn color is Polo. The Lot number is 1401A.

I was looking for the perfect pattern for placemats and coasters for a Fall table setting. Alas, I had to design my own. Of course, I used I Love This Cotton Yarn - it is quite soft - and I worked the placemats in three colors simultaneously for thickness and visual texture. Below, I've pictured the pattern chart for the coasters.

Pictured Placemat in I Love This Cotton Yarn in Brown, Sage, and Ivory. Coaster in Brown.